shadowscribe | there's a darkness at the heart of my love;

Elant smiled, accepting the tea with grace. "That caution and less giving nature is, admittedly, a part of why I am interested in this courtship. I need a Queen who can hold her own in court and want one who can also do so in... private."

There's a touch of color on his cheeks at that admittance as he sips the tea. "I intend to follow the four traditions of courtship, if that is agreeable. I know it has somewhat fallen out of fashion with those our age but... there is something to be said for following protocols." He added, "I do not ask your magic, Lady Kweydos, and hope that even if we do not find love we can find a trust and friendship enough to be together."

Those were attractive features to him? For a moment she seems mildly surprised but when she considers it a moment more a Queen who can hold their own couldn't be a bad thing. As long as she wasn't cruel to her people Arafel could respect a cooler tempered Queen. To talk of one in private too ... perhaps he liked the commanding type?

She can't help but smile though as he brings up the four traditions. It had been a long time since she heard them mentioned beyond old etiquette books. Once upon a time the nobility did love their traditions surrounding courtships. Marriages were judged on going through those four traditions as much as they were the lavishness of the wedding and the number of receptions before and after the nuptials.

"You must be something of a sentimental man then." There's a bit of a tease to her tone and the quick addition of, "I appreciate that. Not many have a taste for the older traditions but they do help build stronger relationships I think."

Or that's what she had always thought. It gave a couple time to learn one another before they were wed. And with him talking of trust and friendship ...

She pauses as her heart does a funny little flutter. The idea of being courted, of hopes of not just connections but trust and friendship ... it's such a nice thought. The Kweydos family wasn't cruel but they weren't warm and loving either. It was expected that as a shadow magic user she would be treated a little less warmly in her own household but she had held some faint hope of finding it in marriage if she was lucky enough. A foolish thought back then but now?

Her cheeks are flushed all over again as she looks up from her teacup, catching Elant's eye as her smile warms more. "I think that should be easy for us to find, Your Highness. Or rather ... I have no reason not to call you a friend even now."

Trust was somewhat more tricky but she would have to come to trust him before she could fulfill the more wifely part of her duties should they marry. It's only in considering that that Arafel finally realizes what he meant on the emphasis on private.

A strong hand in the bedroom? She feels guilty for wondering if that's what he means because the idea isn't precisely repulsive to her. Not to mention she shouldn't be thinking of such things at a first meeting with her prospective fiance!

"I suppose I am, yes. Though I do plan on advancing some of our laws and traditions in other places of our society." Elant smiled back, something in him settling and relaxing.

"I don't have many friends, not properly. Courtiers are..." he shrugged, "They want to have the King's favor when I take the throne, or want to try to put Marcell in my place instead. Which is... it wouldn't work, not properly, the Kingsteel doesn't react for him. The Kingdom's magic doesn't recognize him the way it did Caohime before he was... and now myself."

It was an insight in to the actual workings of the kingdom's magic, and the old blade that was part of the royal regalia and a symbol of the King's strength. That it could recognize and chose the ruler was a long standing rumor confirmed by the future ruler himself.

Prince Caohime's assassination some years ago had been a blow to the kingdom, and that Elant had been named Crown Prince instead of his more martial minded sibling had been a matter of some dissent within the kingdom.

He ducked his head a little, ears pinking, "You are welcome to call me by just my name, or anything else less formal, when we are on our own. I also..." he pressed his lips together for a moment, hesitating for a heartbeat. "My magic is not that of a healer, despite the way it has been portrayed. I will, eventually, tell you what it is if you do not figure such out yourself by then. You could consider it a... courtship game, if you like."

It had certainly been an uproar at the time. Arafel could recall the upheaval within her own family both after the assassination and with Elant being thrust into the role of Crown Prince there had come some additional grief. Her father had been a staunch supporter of Marcell, seeking connections into the royal family through next in line. She fully believed Duke Kweydos knew nothing of the assassination beforehand but with Elant becoming the next Crown Prince rather than Marcell? Some of his long-held hopes were undoubtedly spoiled.

Arafel wondered not for the first time what he would make of Elant's visit. Now in her twenties the Duke had given Arafel her own private guest house near the Kweydos' main mansion itself. It was both so she could study and conduct business without interruption but likewise another layer of separation from the main family.

For now as Arafel nurses her tea it's clear she's keen on hearing about his magic. The intimate details were a well kept secret after all, from just what the Kingsteel could do to the healing powers attributed to the royal bloodlines.

When he says to consider it a courtship game though ... well. She'll have to put her best foot forward then in figuring it out. She murmurs in gentle reply, nothing accusatory to it in the least, "For when you trust me more then?"

She nods a little to say she understands, her lips twitching into a little smile. "I'll try to be clever and mak a good guess then. Only if you promise not to be too offended if I miss the mark, Pri --" mmh, something less formal. Her lips press together and she flicks her gaze down to the empty teacup in her hand as she murmurs.

"Elant."

It's not hard to say but it sounds so intimate. That's what it's supposed to be of course but she's going to have to get used to it. This after all was the first in a long line of intimacies they could potentially share.

There's a soft chuckle, "Trust, and I... Want to learn how your thoughts work. You may ask me any yes or no question pertaining to my magic. I will answer honestly, and if it is something granted by the Kingsteel I will tell you. I will not be offended by any guess you make, they cannot be any worse than I have already heard."

He hesitated a moment before reaching in to his vest and pulling out an envelope.

"My mother is hosting a 'tea' in a few weeks, the gardens will be in full bloom and I should like to see you there. I had an invitation made for you. It is up to you whether you wish to consider such a...calm affair a fulfilment of the tradition of attending an event in public. There is always the summer festivals or the harvests."

Arafel pauses a moment at the suggestion and then gently and somewhat curiously she asks,"I wouldn't mind the attending the tea. But it would be nice to see the festivals and harvests as well."

That's a bit more than the one traditional event in public perhaps but her lips quirk a little in amusement. "I've always been deep into my studies so I haven't gone to any of the festivals or the like in ... well. I believe I might have been a teenager? Or not quite that."

It was around then that puberty snuck up and with it her magical affinity was revealed. Her siblings still interacted with her but far, far less than that had before. That was just the nature of things.

His expression softens a bit, understanding of the rough timeline of when ones magic usually began to show.

"I would gladly take you to attend the festivals, even if we go in an... Unofficial capacity so far as our rank goes." He nodded. "And I... Apologize in advance for whatever difficulties and scrutiny the court puts you through during our courtship, but know that I will defend you unless you decree to me otherwise."

That softens Arafel's own expression.

"That's very kind of you. I will admit I have not been under the eye of the courts even though I do have some experience in such scrutiny. It's comforting to hear you'll defend me."

She looks down to her hands folded together in her lap again. Faint flushes stand out so much more on her pale cheeks.

"I appreciate that. And your interest itself. I've never thought of being courted so ... I look forward to it."

And if eventually he wanted a partner with a firmer hand, well ... maybe she should do some studying on that particular topic too.

there's a darkness at the heart of my love;

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sorry this took forever, had some medical stuff pop up

no worries, take all the time you need. hope you're doing better!

Jeebus. The notif on this got eaten, sorry it took so long!!

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